Course Summary
The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (or FAD for short) is a vital stage of an artist or designer’s career, allowing students to discover the specialist area, material or process that suits them best.
It is an intensive one-year course that is designed to help develop your individuality and aid your progression primarily, but not exclusively, on to Higher Education courses in art and design.
You’ll try different art and design disciplines and be supported to develop a portfolio of work that is appropriate to your future ambitions.
As the course progresses you will be asked to specialise in one of three specialist pathways:
• Fine art / 3D Design
• Fashion and Textiles
• Visual Communication
You will then go on to display your work in a major exhibition at the end of the year.
Visits to local and national galleries and museums are planned throughout the year and there are work experience opportunities embedded into the delivery.
The course is usually completed by students who have just completed a level 3 qualification such as A levels or BTECs in a Creative field such as Art and Design or Creative Media.
Please note: Most learners do not have to pay for this course. This will be assessed upon application or enrolment. If you are under the age of 19 at the start of the course, it is most likely you do not have to pay fees as this additional year in art education is subsidised. For adults (aged 19+) studying at Dudley College, funding may be available to support your learning through an Advanced Learner Loan. Our Learner Services team can you support you with further advice and guidance.
Course Content
On this course you will learn how to explore personal ideas and emotions through art and design. You will gain a level of critical and cultural awareness and learn how to research visual language, art and design history, and social context.
The course is intensive and fast paced with initial projects being only a day or week long. When you decide upon your specialism you will be assigned a studio space but there is an expectation that some work will be completed in your own time out of lesson.
You will be taught hands-on technical skills related to your chosen specialism, and work with a wide range of materials, tools, and techniques including digital technologies such as like laser cutting and Adobe creative suite software.
Problem-solving and innovation is vital to all progression within all specialist areas, and you will use creative and design thinking to develop original, real-world solutions to a wide range of projects.
About the specialisms:
Fine Art
Fine Art is all about ideas, feelings and beauty. It’s personal. Artists often develop their own unique style or way of working and can choose to use any materials or process, from paint or clay, to video and computers. Artists make art to share thoughts, emotions, or messages with a defined audience. Fine art can explore deep topics like identity, society, or nature or it can be playful and humourous. Whatever an artist chooses to add to the world is an expression of their world view.
3D Design
3D Design is about creating real-life objects like furniture, buildings, products, or sculptures. You can make things by hand, like models or prototypes, or use computers to design in 3D. Students who choose 3D Design often like working with materials such as wood, metal, plastic, or clay. They also enjoy solving problems and thinking about how things can look, feel, and work better.
Fashion and Textiles
Fashion and Textiles is all about designing clothes, fabrics, and accessories for garments or for interior spaces. It’s a creative subject that encourages you to solve problems and learn new processes so that you can explore how things are made, how they look, and how they feel to wear. A fashion designer needs to understand trends in everything from everyday wear to haute couture, and how style and branding can impact the way clothes are presented, marketed, and worn.
Visual communication
Visual Communication is about using images, colours, symbols, and design to share ideas or information with a specific audience. It combines art, design, and technology to create clear and engaging messages.
You might design posters, logos, packaging, websites, or graphic novels using both traditional and digital tools. This can lead to exciting careers in branding, illustration, typography, or graphic design.
Course Assessment
You will be assessed at three main stages throughout the course, using project-based assessment, observation of your skills in practice, seminar presentations and group and one-to-one tutorials.
The units you will complete are:
Unit 1: Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice
Unit 2: Developing Specialist Practice
Unit 4: Consolidating Creative Practice
Each unit is assessed against the following grading criteria:
• Context
• Research
• Development of Creative Practice
• Problem Solving
• Planning, progress and production
• Evaluation and Reflection
• Communicating and Presenting a Creative Practice
You need to pass each unit of the course in order to progress to the next stage, with the final stage of the course being marked against Level 4 criteria.
The mark you get for the final unit will constitute your overall grade for the course, a Pass, Merit or Distinction which equate to 80, 96 or 112 UCAS points.
Materials
You will need some basic art materials, such as an A4 sketchbook, an A4 lined notebook, pens and pencils.
Basic art materials are supplied but when you decide upon your chosen specialist area you may need to purchase additional materials or equipment, dependent on your preferred way of working.
A tailored starter pack containing basic art equipment and materials is available to purchase from the college. Details of the cost and content of these packs will be issued at enrolment.
There is an expectation that students take part in educational visits tailored to their programme of study. The costs for these vary and can be compulsory.
Digital equipment including cameras, computers and software will be provided for use in lessons, but it is recommended that you have access to a personal computer to complete any work or research in your own time.
Qualifications
You will achieve a Level 3 UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design from the University of Arts London Awarding Body (UALAB)
Progression
Students completing this course usually go on to study at university or explore other creative employment and progression roles.
The experience of doing the foundation course, and the portfolio created from it, can lead to careers in many creative professions, such as:
• Artist
• Art teacher
• Gallery or museum worker
• Art therapist
• Illustrator
• Product designer
• Furniture designer
• Architect or interior designer
• Set or stage designer
• Model maker
• Industrial designer
• Fashion designer
• Textile designer
• Costume designer
• Fashion buyer or stylist
• Pattern cutter or garment technologist
• Sustainable fashion specialist
• Graphic designer
• Web or app designer
• Animator
• Branding or marketing designer
• Art director
Entry Requirements
The course is designed to be studied after A levels or a BTEC Extended Diploma. You should therefore have already achieved one of the following in order to apply:
1 full A level in an art-related subject
OR
An Extended Diploma in an art-related subject at Level 3.
If you are under 19 and do not have GCSE English and maths at a grade 4 or above, you will be expected to retake these during the foundation course.
Applications from learners who have been out of education for some time are also welcome but you will need to have a portfolio of work that demonstrates your current skills and ability. Vocational or work-based experience will be taken in consideration instead of A level or BTEC qualifications.
*Can I get help with fees?
Funding may be available to support your learning as an adult (aged 19+) studying at Dudley College in the following circumstances:
- If the course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and they have given us permission to offer it at no cost to you and live in the WMCA area.
- If the course is part of the ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ government scheme and you are unemployed or working for a low wage.
- If the course is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) / WMCA and you meet certain criteria (such as this being the first qualification of this type and level you are studying, or unemployed, or working for a low wage).
Your personal circumstances and the funding available to you will be discussed at enrolment, if would useful if you bring evidence including proof of income / benefits; proof of age (i.e. driving licence); prior qualifications.
English & Maths: If you have not previously achieved GCSE grade C or above in English and/or maths, you can study these for free.